Lessons
At the heart of the Bridge the Gap Equine community is our lesson program.
Trainer Madeline Conley is passionate about teaching students about the joys of horsemanship, which translates into every lesson at BGE. Students learn not only how to ride, but how to operate around horses in a way that fosters harmony and partnership above all else.
BGE Lessons At A Glance
All levels of riders are welcome, from beginners to experienced. BGE has several lesson horses available to suit a variety of types of riders.
BGE teaches mostly private lessons. A weekly group jump lesson is also available to boarders and those who lease a horse within the barn.
Beginner lessons last 60 minutes. That time comprises tacking up, riding, and untacking.
More advanced lessons last 45 minutes. Students should be mounted and ready to ride at their lesson time.
The program is primarily rooted in eventing, but above all else, its focus is on teaching students to ride in a way that helps horses to move correctly and efficiently through their bodies. That philosophy manifests through ample cross training, from groundwork to flat work to poles and jumping to trail riding and beyond.
Training
BGE proudly offers fully customized training services.
We meet horses where they are and develop holistic training programs that bring out the best in them in both mind and body.
While no two programs look exactly alike, a typical training program might include a combination of flatwork, jumping, pole work, trail riding and hacking, in-hand groundwork, and bodywork. We offer flexible programs comprising one to five sessions per week, depending on the horse’s needs and the owner’s goals and preferences.
Full Picture Philosophy: We approach all training horses’ programs from a whole-horse perspective. Happy, healthy equine athletes start with plentiful forage and proper nutrition, adequate turnout and time with friends, and time to simply be horses, all of which comprise the crux of Bridge the Gap Equine’s horse management philosophy.
Happy, Healthy Athletes: We pay close, regular attention to training horses’ physical and mental wellbeing and make adjustments to their programs as needed, whether that means more myofascial release and pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) sessions, tack adjustments, varied work types, or whatever the individual horse requires.
Partnership Over Performance: While we strive for athletic excellence under saddle, it’s always secondary to our horses’ health and to the partnerships we share with them. High performance is optional; happiness and wellbeing are not.
What Are Biomechanics?
BGE’s lesson and training programs prioritize proper biomechanics for both horses and riders.
Essentially, that means focusing on the way horses’ and riders’ bodies move and influencing them to move in a way that prioritizes comfort and longevity.
Proper biomechanics create happy, comfortable horses and balanced, fluid riders. That’s the goal always at Bridge the Gap Equine.